Pole-mounted vehicle sensor

Abstract

Devices and meters comprising: a housing configured to mount to a pole supporting an existing meter, the housing defining an interior; a sensor within the interior of the housing, the sensor configured to collect environmental information pertaining to the local external environment of the existing meter; a wireless radio within the interior of the housing, the wireless radio configured to transmit the environmental information to the existing meter or to a remote server in communication with the existing meter; a power unit within the interior of the housing, the power unit supplying power to the sensor and the wireless radio.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15 / 443,734, filed Feb. 27, 2017, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 301,302, filed Feb. 29, 2016, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Sensors collecting environmental information and wireless communication capabilities improve the functionality of street parking meters. Parking meters including such technologies are able to offer higher levels of service to both consumers and municipalities. Parking meters with sensors collecting environmental information and wireless communication capabilities also offer enhanced ability to accommodate refined schemes of rates and time limits. Current practices adopted for replacing existing parking meters with technologically advanced upgraded versions involve labor intensive and expensive steps, such as coring of the asph...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0003]The present invention provides a fast and convenient upgrade procedure to add environmental information collecting capability to an existing parking meter by requiring only the simple step of installing a new device, which comprises a sensor, onto an existing meter. In some embodiments, the housing of the device described herein is mounted to a pole supporting an existing meter, the housing defining an interior. In other embodiments, the housing of the device encloses a sensor, a wireless radio and a power unit. In further embodiments, the sensor collects environmental information pertaining to the local external environment of the existing meter. In some embodiments, the device described herein contains a wireless radio which transmits the environmental information collected by the sensor to the existing meter. In other embodiments, the wireless radio transmits the environmental information collected by the sensor to a remote server in communication with the existing meter. In some embodiments, the devices described herein are self-contained, having an independent power source and communications element. In further embodiments, the devices described herein do not require an electrical connection to an existing meter. For example, in some embodiments, the device is physically associated with an existing meter and optionally in wireless communication with the existing parking meter mechanism, but does not require a functional, wired, electrical connection to any component of the existing meter. This feature facilitates rapid, low-cost upgrades, reduces operating and maintenance costs, and results in a more modular system that is easier to upgrade further in the future.

[0004]The devices described herein are compatible with, and can be retrofitted to, a wide range of existing meters. Further, the devices are designed such that the internal components, e.g., sensor, wireless radio transmitter, RF tag reader, solar cell battery, etc. are not visible at all from the outside, thereby protecting the parking meter against possible acts of vandalism. Parking meters fitted with the devices described herein can be serviced easily.

[0006]In some embodiments, the environmental information comprises the presence and / or movement of a vehicle in a parking space associated with the existing meter. In other embodiments, the device comprises a housing. In further embodiments, the device comprises components needed to wirelessly engage with a unique RF tag that is affixed to the existing meter. In such embodiments, the device optionally obtains a unique location-specific identifier from the RF tag and transmits the identifier to a remote server where configuration information pertaining to local environments is collected and stored. In this way, the devices described herein provide a streamlined upgrade process whereby the housing of the device is mounted to a pole supporting an existing meter. The device obtains the associated identifier, and uses the identifier to request its intended configuration information and operating parameters from a remote server. In various embodiments, the remote server is a remote database hosted on a cloud system. In further embodiments, the device optionally obtains a unique location-specific identifier from the RF tag directly as a means to identify its location.

Problems solved by technology

Current practices adopted for replacing existing parking meters with technologically advanced upgraded versions involve labor intensive and expensive steps, such as coring of the asphalt surface of a street or sidewalk, replacement of all the internal components of an existing meter, or complete removal of an existing meter and installation of a new meter.

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